Embracing motherhood

With the growing perception of the ?supermum? and society?s increasing pressure on women to ?have it all?, Australian mothers often miss out on vital postnatal care and support that is the norm in traditional cultures around the world.

A woman?s body can take as long to recover as it does to make a baby; but in particular, the six week postnatal period is extremely important for supporting new mums back to health, as following childbirth women are depleted in terms of blood loss, nutrition and energy.  

The complete physical and emotional change that women experience after childbirth requires enormous support however often society does not acknowledge this need. In Australia 40 per cent of women have an ?early discharge? from hospital ? within 72 hours of giving birth.

Pregnant women are celebrated in our society however once the baby is born this attention often shifts entirely to the newborn and apart from one or two GP check-ups in the weeks following the birth, the importance of a mother?s recovery is often overlooked.

 ?After nine months of feeling special ? it is no wonder that new mums can feel isolated and abandoned in the postnatal period, especially when dealing with the challenge of coping with fatigue,? said Tania Flack who specialises in postnatal care at Embracing Motherhood.

?Fifteen per cent of all Western women suffer from postnatal depression and 76 per cent of women report fatigue in the postnatal care period, which significantly impacts on family life, relationships and libido,? she said.

?The Australian community is just not recognising the need for new mothers to recuperate during the critical post-birthing period.?

Fatigue has been defined as ?an overwhelming, sustained sense of exhaustion and decreased capacity for physical and mental work?, however it is more than just feeling tired - without good energy reserves the demands of new parenthood can quickly become overwhelming.

Catching up on sleep is often not enough, as fatigue has been shown to effect concentration, cause women to feel irritable and avoid socializing, and can also have a big impact on libido which can all lead to women feeling isolated and impact their relationship.  

During the postnatal period a women?s body will also physically alter in many ways, as it adjusts from pregnancy to the non-pregnant state.

There are significant hormone changes in the weeks following birth, with many women experiencing dramatic changes in fluid balance and body shape, and some women experiencing sweating or night sweats as well as headaches.

?There are many things you can do to assist with these changes and to improve your energy levels naturally. Identifying the cause of your ongoing postnatal fatigue is imperative, often nutritional deficiencies play a role, as does your hormones,? Ms Flack said.

?Women tend to focus on their diet whilst they?re pregnant but neglect it afterwards however; breastfeeding requires more nutritional support than pregnancy as the nutrients you eat go straight to the baby, so it?s important to ensure you?re making the effort to eat the right type of foods regularly and not just grabbing a bite whenever you can.

?Women are always amazed how quickly they regain their energy levels just by having a set nutritional plan and using herbal medicine. Warm foods that digest easily are essential, as is a high-protein diet to replenish iron levels, plus nutrients to regulate hormones and help with tissue repair and energy levels.?

Another important aspect of postnatal care is massage and abdominal wrapping which are known to increase energy, release toxins that make new mothers tired, eliminate pregnancy hormones and reduce fluid retention.

Cultures across the world have their own specific form of massage for postnatal care, generally applied to the entire body, including the abdomen and breasts. Many mix massage with ritual tummy wrapping which whilst an ancient tradition, is still practiced today in many countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Cambodia, Mexico, China, Guatemala, Java, the South Pacific, India and the Philippines.

Used in the period following birth, the wrap is worn a few days up to several months and helps to return the uterus to its pre-pregnancy position, warm the reproductive organs, support the stomach muscles and close the birth canal, while helping the tummy to return to its pre-pregnancy shape.

?Western women are now discovering the many reasons to adopt this ancient practice,? Ms Flack said. ?New Mums report it is supportive, comforting to wear and many find it helps to flatten their post pregnancy tummies.?

Whilst nutritional, herbal supplements massage and tummy wrapping are extremely important, cultures that have a focus on postnatal traditions consistently combine these with rest to ensure healing, re-balancing and recovery.

For centuries many traditional Eastern cultures including those in Asia, South America, the Middle East and India, have recognised the need for a new mums to rejuvenate after the birthing experience through a ritual called ?sitting the month?.  

?Sitting the month? is a rest period spanning three to eight weeks and involves extended members of the family, staying at the home to care for the new mother and infant.

This involves practical assistance for the mother, including chores and cooking to ensure the mother is keeping rested, enjoys specific postnatal foods and also incorporates rituals such as regular massages, binding and wrapping the abdomen.

The recuperation of the mother at home restores her strength and vitality, which is thought to aid in preventing infection in the postnatal period as well as poor health later in life.

In the Western world observing this vital recuperative period seems to have ceased around the 19th Century, with mothers quickly released from hospital they are often expected to quickly resume total self-care as well as care of the family.

Whilst Australian women may have someone stay with them for a week or two immediately following the birth, they are often up out of bed quickly, pushing themselves instead of focusing on recuperating.

Postnatal recovery programmes based on ?sitting the month? are often referred to as the ?fourth trimester? and can have a significant and positive impact on the rate of a mother?s recovery.

Recovery programmes help support mothers regain strength and energy quickly and sustainably, help support healthy moods during a time of great change, potentially minimise recovery time, help regain your pre-baby tummy quickly, gently and naturally and help your baby to settle and look after the family?s needs.

Ms Flack said Embracing Motherhood understood that it was not realistic for Australian mothers to lie in bed for a month, so instead they offered a 30-day-in-home programme, specially designed to easily blend into your life in the comfort of your own home.  

?The programme generally begins a few weeks after birth and is carefully designed to support new mothers to physically recover; as well as assisting them with feeling calm and strong enough to cope with the challenges of motherhood,? she said.  
 
?At Embracing Motherhood, we aim to reinvent Australia?s approach to postnatal recovery and honour new mothers. The programmes are not only an investment in the important post-birth period for new mothers, but also an investment in their own future health and that of their family.?

This article has been supplied by Embracing Motherhood.

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